God the Omnipotent

Words: Henry F. Chorley & John Ellerton, based on Psalm 29  

Music:    "Russian Hymn" Alexis Feodorovitch Lvov, 1833
When he wrote this tune, Lvov was adjutant to Tsar Nicholas I of Russia.
The tune's rhythmical style is reminiscent of the Psalm tunes of the Anglo-Genevan Psalter of almost 300 years earlier.
(If your computer has sound but the music is not playing,  click this)

 1.  God the Omnipotent! King who ordainest
     Great winds Thy clarions, the lightnings Thy Sword;
     Show forth Thy pity on high where Thou reignest,
     Give to us peace, O most merciful Lord.

 2.  God the all merciful! Earth hath forsaken
     Thy precepts holy, and slighted Thy word;
     Bid not Thy wrath in its terrors awaken;
     Give to us peace, O most merciful Lord.

 3.  God the all righteous One! Man hath defied Thee;
     Yet to eternity standeth Thy word;
     Falsehood and wrong shall not tarry beside Thee;
     Prosper the right, O most merciful Lord.

**   God the All-wise! by the fire of Thy chastening,
     Earth shall to freedom and truth be restored;
     Through the thick darkness Thy Kingdom is hastening;
     Thou wilt give give peace in Thy time, O Lord.

 4.  So shall we render thee thankful devotion,
     For Thy deliv'rance from peril and sword,
     Singing in chorus from ocean to ocean,
     "Thine is the pow'r and the glory, O Lord."

** The Scottish Church Hymnary of 1929 has this verse as verse 4. We thought it particularly apropos to the times.

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Page last modified on: 07/29/2004